Flywheel turning lever



Dec. 26, 1950 I. W. NELSON FLYWHEEL TURNING LEVER Filed Aug. 26, 1947 'z'xjl P z F256. 2

| INVENTOR IyesWA/elsom.

ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLYWHEEL TURNING LEVER Ives W. Nelson, East Baton Rouge, La. Application August 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,610

The present invention relates generally to tools and more particularly to a special form of wrench for automotive repair work.

I-leretofore, wrenches for use in adjusting flywheels and the like to enable the mechanic to obtain proper positions for working on certain parts of engines, such as valves, bearings and camshafts, have been awkward to handle. This is particularly true in View of the fact that all prior wrench members, flywheel cranks or the like, must be manually raised from the floor of the work shop by the mechanic and applied to the flywheel with every use of the tool. Often the tool becomes misplaced or out of reach of the mechanic makingrepair under the vehicle when it is most needed, with the result that much profanity and considerable extra work results.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool for turning flywheels or the like from under a vehicle being repaired, whereby said tool is adapted to cooperate with the flywheel structure to remain in operative position on the flywheel at all times during use and thus eliminate the usual groping around under the car for the same each time it is to be used.

Another object is to provide a simple, durable and economically manufacturable tool for turning flywheels adapted to fit substantially any type of motor vehicle.

A further object is to provide a tool for adjusting engine parts from under a vehicle, comprising means engageable with a crankshaft to serve as a fulcrum point in combination with a first adjustable means for retaining the tool in working position on a flywheel or the like and a second adjustable means for imparti g rotary motion to the flywheel.

The above and other objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Reference should be had to the appended claims to determine the limits of the present invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational front view of a flywheel with the crankshaft on which it is mounted in cross section, and illustrating the novel tool of the present invention in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the arrangement in a Fig. 1, partly in cross section to better illustrate tool retainer member. in detail; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the adjustable member adapted to impart rotation to the flywheel and illustrating its engagement with a fragmentary portion of the flywheel gear teeth.

Referring in detail to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, numeral I0 is a flywheel having peripheral, gear teeth I and an annular groove I2. The flywheel is mounted as usual on a crankshaft |4 connected to impart motion to Various parts of an internal combustion engine, not shown.

The novel tool of the present invention is specially formed to coact with the teeth groove l2 and crankshaft M, as best illustrated in Fi .ures 1 and 2. For example, the tool comprises a handle or shank |5 formed at one end with a screw driver l1, if desired, and at the other end or head of the wrench with an arcuate T-head l9. This arcuate shape provides a convex top surface adapted to conform generally to the cylindrical circumference of the crankshaft M, to thereby serve as a lever base or fulcrum point for the tool.

.Mounted on the handle I5 are upper and lower adjustable members 2| and 22. The upper member 2| is formed from a stamping, forging or casting of rigid material, such as metal. This member 2| hereinafter termed, the flywheel retainer lug. comprises a hollow body having an enlarged base 24 and a restricted or pinched top nose 25 formed with aligned bolt openings 26 and 21 to receive a bolt 28. The sides of the nose portion 25 are slightly flexible. Thus, when a nut 29 is tightened on the bolt 28, the same are pinched together and cause the base 24 to grip around the handle l5 and hold the retainer lug 2| in an adjusted position on the handle for engagement of the base within the groove |2 on the flywheel It. This retainer lug 2| in combination with the member 22 serves to retain the tool in position on the flywheel for use at all times.

To facilitate the lever action of the handle I5, the base 24 of the lug 2! is formed on the bottom thereof with exterior projections or runners 32 and 33, see Fig. 3. These runners are adapted to engage with the bottom of the groove l2 and provide greater stability to the tool during operation.

The lower member 22 is specially formed to cooperate with the flywheel teeth H, see Fig. 2.

This lower member comprises a rectangular flat lug having a tapered edge 35, so proportioned and so shaped as to fit between the teeth H on the flywheel when properly positioned on the handle l5, and a hollow base 31 adapted to encircle the handle i5, see Fig. 4. The hollow base 31 is held in adjusted positions on the handle l5 by a set screw 39, which projects from a threaded opening formed in the bottom of the base 31.

To provid a rigid non-rocking connection be-' tween the base 3? and the handle IS, the interior of the hollow base is formed with a small projection or cleat id in axial alignment with the end of the set screw 3%. Thus, when a 'set screw is tightened, the center of the handle: is firmly held between the tip of the set screw and the said cleat 40.

Operation The general operation and use of the tool is probably obvious from the foregoing description; but briefly, the tool head it is positioned against the crankshaft i i, the retaining lug 21 adjusted on the handle 55, into alignment with the annular flywheel groov E2, and then the lower member 22 is brought into engagement with the teeth ll. Thus, the tool is held in position for operation and the handle may be turned as desired to turn the flywheel in exact positions for working on valves, bearings, Camshafts, etc.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is t6 be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, various changes may be made in the design and arrangement without departing fro-m the spirit and scope of the.

invention, as will now likely occur to others skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A tool for turning a flywheel or the like mounted on a crankshaft, comprising an elongated handle having an arcuate headportion enga'geable with said crankshaft, said flywheel having one face an annular groove bounded by inner and outer cylindrical side walls and peripheral gear teeth, and upper and lower adjustable manners mounted on said handle adapted to operatively engage with the walls of said groove a'rfi'djs'aid teeth respectively for angularly adjustmg the flywheel and its crankshaft.

'2. A tool for turning a flywheel or the lik' mounted on a crankshaft, comprising an elongated handle having an arcuate head portion engageablewith said crankshaft, said flywheel having in one face an annular groove bounded by inner and outer cylindrical walls and peripheral gear teeth, an adjustable retaining lug carried by said handle and positioned in said groove, and an adjustable gear teeth engaging member also carried by said handle adapted to impart rotation to said flywheel when said handle is moved.

'3. A tool for turning a flywheel or the like mounted on a crankshaft, comprising an elongated handle having an arcuate head portion engageable with said crankshaft, said flywheel having an annular groove bounded by inner and outer cylindrical walls and peripheral gear teeth, an adjustable retaining lug carried by said handle and positioned in said groove, and a rectangular lug adustably mounted on said handle below said retaining lug, said lug being formed so as to cooperatively engage between the gear teeth of said flywheel.

4. A tool for turning a flywheel or the like mounted on a crankshaft, comprising an elongated haridl having an arcuate head portion eng ageable with said crankshaft, said flywheel having annular groove bounded by inner and outer cylindrical wane and peripheral gear teeth, an adjustable retaining lug carried by said handle comprising a hollow base through which the handle extends, said base being formed with runners ektenliiig nan the bottom thereof to engage the bottom surface of said groove and each with oneend engaging one of the groove walls, and an adjustable rectangular lug carried by said handle having one longitudinal edge thereof formed to coactiv'ely engage between the gear teeth of saidflywheel.

5; A tool for turning flywheels having an annular groove bounded byinner and outer cylindrical walls in the face thereof and peripheral gear teeth, comprising a handle having means at one end engageable with a crankshaft on which the flywheel is mounted, t'oo1 position retaining means mounted on said handle, and gear engaging means also mounted on said handle said retaining means being adjustable oh the handle against the tuterwau of said groove, to thereby retain said tool in working position when said gear engaging means is in gear engaging position.

d. A tool for rotating a toothed flywheel having a recess with inner outer side walls in the face thereof comprising a handle having one end engageable with the aide of said-flywheel, means operativel ya'ssdci'at'e'd withthe handle and engaging the teeth of the flywheel and second means adjustably mounted on the handle'an'd upon adjustment of the same longitudinally on the handle thereby engaging a wall or s'ai'drecess formed in the face of the flywheel to thereby retain the first means in mesh with teeth or the flywheel.

IVES W. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reeord in the file of this patent:

UNITED "STATES PATENTS 

